Considered the longest-running African American holiday, Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of Black Americans from slavery on June 19, 1865.
In the spring of 1865, after the Civil War came to a close, Union General Gordon Grainger finally arrived at Galveston, Texas, with 2,000 Union troops. There, he issued an order freeing the more than 250,000 black slaves in the state. Even so, freedom did not happen immediately, and many black slaves remained unfree for weeks and months as the emancipation news spread across the state.
This new freedom for enslaved black Texans was slow to arrive. In fact, it did not occur for more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law in January 1863. It also was not until December 1865 that slavery in America was formally abolished with the passage of the 13th Amendment.
Below are a few events that took place throughout Cook County. Check them out!
Saturday, June 15 @ 10 a.m.: Forest Preserve District of Cook County Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 15 @ 12:00 p.m.: Evanston's Juneteenth Celebration
Monday, June 16 @ 10 a.m.: Forest Preserve District of Cook County Juneteenth Paddling
Tuesday, June 18 @ 7 p.m.: Winnetka-Northfield Public Library Juneteenth: Commemorating the End of Slavery in America (Virtual)
Wednesday, June 19 @ 10 a.m.: The DuSable Museum of African American History Juneteenth Performances: Celebrating Black Creativity and Expression
Wednesday, June 19 @ 7 p.m.: Arlington Heights Park District Juneteenth Concert
Saturday, June 22 @ 8 a.m.: Juneteenth Illinois Programming
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